Happy Birthday For Me

 I remember when my kids and grandkids were so busy with their lives that they would often forget my birthday each year. Imagine that?! Well, these days everyone seems to remember the old mom! Is it because the closer you get to your last birthday you may ever have, (like in getting old as dirt) your loved ones seem to realize that, and they do attempt to call, text, send a card, or my very favorite birthday gift treat me to lunch or dinner at a really great restaurant! 

The pics below are of me and my daughter at a cool little cubby hole in Lonoke, AR. The restaurant The Grumpy Rabbit is managed extremely well and is equipped with a super duper genuine real chef! You know, the kind of chef who makes everything delicious and special looking. We went on a Friday night and the Rabbit got hopping just as we were winding down. Before you say ewwww, you must experience the Grilled Brussell Sprouts. To Di For! Also, a piece of pastry whatever they have for the day, you must try. The Limoncello cheesecake was a work of art. Probably going to make The Grumpy Rabbit a same time each year annual tradition, if I make it another year. 

This was the best cake ever for my birthday this year because my sister who says she cannot boil water, made it for me! When she asked my favorite flavor, I always say white cake and vanilla buttercream frosting. And, when we met up at Fazoli's for my birthday lunch, she brought it!! They have a wonderful menu and lunch special to choose from at this nice little Italian eatery in NLR. You order at the counter, they bring it out, and it's a great little set up. The manager brought us extra dessert plates and a knife for slicing the cake. Wow!  And then he gave me a 50% off coupon for my entire order on the next visit. Double Wow!! I really enjoy my birthdays these years and I do hope I have many more...I've got a lot more to experience before my time on earth is up.

 What's wrong with this pic????? Comment below...you might win something!

Alll Kinds of Vampires

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the mountains of North Carolina and shores of Florida are calling. Don't fall for any spurious shenanigans! Please consider these three very easy and safe ways to help American Red Cross :

Donate Money

Donate Blood

Donate by Volunteering

 

Southern Coasters Battling Helene and Milton Not Giggling Any Time Soon...

Not looking forward to the hurricane 2024 statistics; they will be devasting. According to the Office for Coastal Management: 'Central, Gulf, South, and Southeast: June 2023 – Severe storms produced over 1,000 reports of weather-related damage across Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, and Ohio. Total costs: $3.8 billion.'

Loss of life, people and animals dispersed, homes, land, and businesses gone in a flash, 100-year floods: pretty devastating. There's only one way to get through this kind of devastation and that is through the hands of God and the human hands he has helping Him down here. 

If you see a neighbor in need, YOU are God's hands here on earth. A lot of neighbors are going to need YOUR helping hands during these Helene and Milton devastations. Serving and helping others will make YOUR heart feel good and it is commanded of US to allow God to work through US.  BTW, look for something to giggle about today...

Three Rules for Grieving That You May Not Want to Do

 THEY say there's never a wrong way to grieve; that everyone has their own certain way of saying goodbye to a loved one. That's BS! I do believe that THEY are wrong. I've grieved my deceased husband of 31 years for over 5 years now. I've had his ashes in a beautiful bronze urn that I've moved from one place to another, over those years, looking for answers and peace.  And when a loved one dies, it seems you make a lot of different moves to deal with your loss and hopeless feelings. It's heavy too, the urn. And so are your feelings of loss and hopelessness. These are my 3 must do rules, I've finally discovered, as you grieve the loss of a loved one. 

1.  You Must Have a Memorial Service - Announce it in the newspaper, (I know it's expensive these days) just do it! Some people say, "I don't want a service or funeral of any kind when I die. Just bury or cremate me and get it over with." No, you must allow others to come and give condolences to you and your loved one. Even if only one person comes to say goodbye at the designated memorial place, it's important to let people know this person lived a life on Earth and now is gone to another place and this is the time to acknowledge them in some sacred way. It really doesn't matter what the deceased person wants, do this for YOU.

2.  Let Mourners Send Flowers - Forget asking donations to a charity, get the flowers. People love to send arrangements and it's so easy these days. And who doesn't love to get flowers??? It's a wonderful source of memories for you to have in the years thereafter. And of course you must reciprocate with a thank you note. Don't even think of not sending a thank you card, where the heck are your manners! I know you're grieving, but just do it. Oh, and keep the live plants and donate the cut arrangements to a nursing home.

3.   Decide Where Your Loved One's Body or Ashes Will Finally Rest - Most important, let go of the body or ashes, give it a final resting place; a secure place like a well maintained cemetery that will be taken care of thru the years.  If you spread the ashes, mark the area so others can go and visit from time to time. Key here is VISIT. VISIT don't stay there. Also, key is don't leave urns or ashes around the house. I mentioned above, a secure place.  When YOU kick the bucket, those keepsakes, urns, or ashes might get thrown out or sold at a garage sale... Just saying. 

My loved one, Mike Hocut's ashes, who readily served his country in the 70s, will be entombed at the secure and well-maintained Arkansas Veterans Memorial Cemetery. 

I know it's hard but do attempt to get a giggle in today. Have you giggled today???

Orange Beach in Fairhope, Alabama

This is the awesome Orange Beach in the beautiful and quaint town of Fairhope, Alabama. The beaches here in this Southern city are sandy white with the waters clear and inviting. Also, be sure to stroll along the shops and restaurants of Fairhope for an amazing experience of diverse foods and goods. A wonderful place to visit anytime of the year. 

DIY A Latte Today

Like many others I have  been a Starbucks customer for lots of years. Daily lattes can be very expensive.  I would always have the Venti oatmilk with 4 Splendas, add whip.  When the prices started hiking out of control, I nipped the bud. Now, I’m off Starbucks for good!   Make my hot coffee at home each morning or I have an iced drink whenever I want. Freedom!! I have a wonderful iced coffee recipe for your homemade drinks. 

Iced Coffee At Home

1 lb of your favorite dark roasted coffee

32 cups (8 qts) cold water

Mix together in a large container and let it sit overnight. 

Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth in the a.m. Eek, messy! Keep in fridge until you use as your base with the milk and sweetner of your choice.

Try it and you’ll never go back. Feels good to kick back at home in the morning with the kids…

You Cannot Heal in the Place Where You Experienced Hurt

Why is it we sometimes have to get away from it all. Go to another place to be alone. Isolate ourselves. Distance ourselves. Disappear. Cut and run. Flee. Make a getaway. Sort of like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride...

or like Robin Wright in Land...

or like Reese Witherspoon in The Wild...

or like Di Hocut in Who Gives a Flying Flip...

Many times you are not able to heal in the place where you experienced your hurt, but you are able to return when you're in a better place. So when you are able don't be afraid to go home where you are loved, welcomed, and able to start a new day to begin again. Have you giggled today? Try it.